GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG sophomore golfer Sammie Buchanan (Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton) fired a 2-under par 70 and sits in a tie for fourth place, just one shot off the lead, after one round of the 54-hole Kiawah Invitational Sunday. Buchanan’s play helped the Spartans place in a tie for 17th in the highly competitive 36-field event that takes places on two different courses, the Oak Point Golf Club and the Cougar Point Golf Club hosted by the College of Charleston.

Buchanan’s 2-under par 70 places her tied with Maya Persons of Jacksonville State and just one shot behind a trio of leaders that posted a 3-under par 69. Her 2-under par 70 is the lowest score of the day posted on the Oak Point Golf Club course and she is the only player in the top 14 that played the Oak Point course as the other golfers in the top 14 played on the Cougar Point course.

Buchanan was consistent all day long, recording three birdies and just one bogey to go along with her 14 par scores. Her 69 score is the second lowest of her career, just one shot off her record-low score of 68 set at the Starmount Forest Tournament this fall.

Junior Berglind Bjornsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland/Menntaskolinn I Reykjavik) was the Spartans’ second finisher with a 2-over par 74. Bjornsdottir sits in a tied for 23rd place, just five shots off the lead. She posted a team-high four birdie on the day. Freshman Kristin Powers (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) was the third top scorer for UNCG Sunday as she finished with an 8-over 80 score.

UNCG sits in a tie for 17th place with a 312 score, matching the effort of William & Mary and Wyoming. Troy leads the event with a 291 while three other teams - Kent State, Jacksonville State and St. John’s are one shot back at 292.